Match of the Day: Season 1980/81
After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.
Season 17 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Match of the Day Season 16.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
After 16 seasons in the Saturday night slot, Match of the Day moved to Sunday afternoons.
Episode Guide
Season 17 Progress Shield
17th August 1980
Aug 17, 1980 · 80 min
Jimmy Hill introduces action highlights of three Football League matches and adds his own perceptive analysis of the weekend's action. Joining him will be Bob Wilson who will be re
24th August 1980
Aug 24, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of three outstanding football league games, plus match analysis and comments. There is also the chance for you to air your views with the Match of the Day team, a
31st August 1980
Aug 31, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three First Division matches, plus comments, analysis and interviews with football personalities of the week. Liverpool v Norwich City Brighton & Hove Albion v West
7th September 1980
Sep 7, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action, plus comment and analysis. Bob Wilson follows up the weekend's headlines and looks forward to England's opening match in the 1982
14th September 1980
Sep 14, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action, with match analysis and comment. Bob Wilson looks at the weekend's other headlines and brings you up to date. Nottingham Forest v
21st September 1980
Sep 21, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action, plus comment and analysis from the players and managers involved. Bob Wilson looks at the weekend's other headlines and brings you
28th September 1980
Sep 28, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action, plus comment and analysis, and Bob Wilson looks at the weekend's other headlines and brings you up-to-date. Manchester United v M
5th October 1980
Oct 5, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three Football League matches plus comment, analysis and interviews. Bob Wilson looks at the weekend's headlines and there's the result of the August/September Goal o
12th October 1980
Oct 12, 1980 · 80 min
Action highlights of three Football League matches, plus match analysis and comment. Liverpool v Ipswich Town Leicester City v Coventry City West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers
19th October 1980
Oct 19, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three Football League matches, plus comment, analysis and interviews from the personalities involved. Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion Manchester City v Bir
26th October 1980
Oct 26, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three Football League matches, comment, analysis and interviews from the personalities involved. Plus the October Goal of the Month competition. Chelsea v Newcastle
2nd November 1980
Nov 2, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of the weekend s football action, plus analysis, comment and interviews. There is also the result of the October Goal of the Month competition, and Bob Wilson looks at t
9th November 1980
Nov 9, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three Football League matches affecting promotion, relegation and championship honours. Plus all the important football news and comment of the week. Liverpool v Not
16th November 1980
Nov 16, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action plus comment and analysis from personalities. Bob Wilson follows up the weekend's headlines and looks forward to England's World Cu
23rd November 1980
Nov 23, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of two First Division matches and a report on the first round of the FA Cup. Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United Stoke City v Crystal Palace Harlow Town v Char
30th November 1980
Nov 30, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three Football League matches affecting the race for honours in the First and Second Divisions. Plus the Goal of the Month competition for November. Sunderland v Liv
7th December 1980
Dec 7, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three First Division matches with comment and analysis from the personalities involved. Plus the result of the November Goal of the Month competition. Norwich City v
14th December 1980
Dec 14, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of two Football League ; matches, plus a report on the second round of the FA Cup. Bob Wilson looks at the weekend's other headlines. Swansea City v Newcastle United A
21st December 1980
Dec 21, 1980 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill. News round-up Bob Wilson. Chelsea v Leyton Orient Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa Nottingham Forest v Sunderland
28th December 1980
Dec 28, 1980 · 80 min
Highlights of three football league matches, plus December's Goal of the Month competition. West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United Arsenal v Ipswich Town Lincoln City v Mansfi
4th January 1981: FA Cup Third Round
Jan 4, 1981 · 80 min
Featuring highlights of three matches from the third round of the FA Cup. Ipswich Town v Aston Villa Everton v Arsenal Swansea City v Middlesbrough
11th January 1981
Jan 11, 1981 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill. Plus all the weekend's latest football news from Bob Wilson. Aston Villa v Liverpool Sheffield Wednesday v Chelsea Crystal Palace v Stoke City
18th January 1981
Jan 18, 1981 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action, with comment and analysis from the personalities involved. Everton v Ipswich Town Birmingham City v Southampton Tottenham Hotsp
25th January 1981: FA Cup Fourth Round
Jan 25, 1981 · 80 min
Featuring highlights of three matches from the fourth round of the FA Cup. Nottingham Forest v Manchester United Manchester City v Norwich City Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers
1st February 1981
Feb 1, 1981 · 80 min
Introduced by Jimmy Hill featuring highlights of three First Division matches, and January's Goal of the Month competition. Derby County v Luton Town Southampton v Sunderland Ar
8th February 1981
Feb 8, 1981 · 80 min
Shrewsbury Town v West Ham United Everton v Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United
15th February 1981: FA Cup Fifth Round
Feb 15, 1981 · 80 min
Featuring highlights from three matches in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City Peterborough United v Manchester City Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wrexh
22nd February 1981
Feb 22, 1981 · 80 min
Highlights of three games from yesterday's Football League programme, plus comment, news and interviews. Charlton Athletic v Exeter City Ipswich Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers S
1st March 1981
Mar 1, 1981 · 80 min
Highlights of the weekend's football action with comment, analysis and interviews. Bob Wilson looks at the week's major football stories. Plus the February Goal of the Month compet
8th March 1981: FA Cup Sixth Round
Mar 8, 1981 · 80 min
Featuring the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. Highlights of two of yesterday's games, plus all the atmosphere and tension that surrounds the Cup. Plus the result of the February 'Goal o
15th March 1981: League Cup Final
Mar 15, 1981 · 80 min
Featuring exclusive coverage of the 1981 Football League Cup Final between Liverpool and West Ham United. BBC Television cameras capture all the drama and excitement of a Wembley C
22nd March 1981
Mar 22, 1981 · 80 min
Action highlights of three Football League matches affecting championship honours, promotion and relegation. Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers Brighton & Hove Albion v Stoke City Liver
29th March 1981
Mar 29, 1981 · 80 min
Action highlights of three Football League matches affecting championship honours, promotion and relegation. Plus a chance to win £100-worth of Premium Bonds in our March Goal of t
5th April 1981
Apr 5, 1981 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action with comments and analysis from the personalities involved. Plus the result of the March Goal of the Month competition. West Bromw
12th April 1981: FA Cup Semi-Final
Apr 12, 1981 · 80 min
Yesterday afternoon Manchester City met Ipswich Town at Villa Park and Match of the Day's cameras bring you the special excitement and tension that surround an FA Cup Semi-final.
19th April 1981
Apr 19, 1981 · 80 min
Highlights of yesterday's Football League action with comments and analysis from the personalities involved. Ipswich Town v Arsenal Notts County v Preston North End Manchester U
26th April 1981
Apr 26, 1981 · 80 min
Action highlights of three football league matches affecting championship honours, promotion and relegation. Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Manchester United v Norwich City Swansea
3rd May 1981
May 3, 1981 · 80 min
From the last full Football League Saturday of the season, Jimmy Hill presents action highlights of three outstanding games. As well as the day's news from Bob Wilson there's a fur
9th May 1981: FA Cup Final: Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
May 9, 1981 · 80 min
The 100th FA Cup Final. BBC outside broadcast cameras bring you the whole of today's great occasion, a milestone in the history of the FA Cup, which was first played for in 1872.
16th May 1981: Home International Championship
May 16, 1981 · 80 min
Wales v Scotland from Vetch Field, Swansea Action highlights of this afternoon's opening matches from the Home International Soccer Championships.